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IKEA’s smart window blinds hit the US April 1st
IKEA is adding to its collection of smart home products, introducing a line of smart window blinds to go along with its range of intelligent lighting products. But while the company's German website had already listed two versions of its smart blinds earlier this week, it was unclear when or if US stores would carry them. Now, the company has confirmed that IKEA stores in the US will start carrying one of the new products on April 1st.
Kangaroo expands its line of affordable smart home security sensors
Smart home security is gaining traction, but it generally still comes at a price. Last year, however, startup company Kangaroo entered the market with its system of $30 peel-and-stick motion sensors and low-cost monitoring plans, designed to make security simple, accessible and affordable. Now, it's launching five new equally-affordable products to expand its repertoire and help its users take advantage of even beefier security.
KitchenAid's smart display shrugs off sauce and running water
A hundred years since its inception, KitchenAid is ready to drop its most modern product yet. It unveiled a smart display here at CES 2019 and managed to differentiate from other similar products by making its device water-resistant. Thanks to its IPX5 rating, the KitchenAid will survive even if you held it under running water.
Amazon's Key delivery service is coming to businesses
Amazon first introduced Key because porch piracy is a thing, but many folks were shocked with a system that would let couriers enter into their homes when they were out. Amazon has slowly reduced those fears by bringing in new smart lock manufacturers like Schlage and beefing up security. As we roll into 2019, Amazon is now expanding the service (renamed to Key by Amazon) with garage entry, smart doorbell support and the latest feature, Key for Business.
Kohler's Alexa-enabled Sensate kitchen faucet quenches thirst on command
In 2019, more than ever, we're expecting to see Alexa in everything. The Sensate faucet from Kohler is the latest example of where Amazon's voice assistant can find another home. To be fair, while a voice-activated microwave seems less than useful, a faucet (and the water that comes with it) seems at least a somewhat sensible application of hands-free technology.
ADT's Command tablet is the new center of its home security system
The rise of smart home technology has opened up plenty of ways to build a home security system. ADT, a company that's been doing home monitoring for decades, is unveiling a new version of its security products that can tie in to a variety of other connected devices around your house. The center of the system is the new ADT Command panel, a 7-inch tablet that serves as the hub for your home security.
IKEA is launching low-cost smart window blinds
Almost a year ago, Swedish furniture giant IKEA signalled its intention to make people's homes smarter with the launch of its own intelligent lighting range. TRÅDFRI -- as we now know it -- has grown to include a variety of LED bulbs, motion sensor kits, dimming lights and a selection of LED light panels and doors that can be built into kitchen and bedroom cabinets. With its low-cost lighting now in stores all over the world, IKEA has decided it wants to further automate people's homes and has confirmed the launch of a new product: smart window blinds.
Netatmo unveils the first HomeKit-friendly video doorbell
Apple's HomeKit doesn't have a wide range of device support, but that's changing very shortly. Netatmo has unveiled the Smart Video Doorbell, which it says is the first doorbell to support HomeKit. You can view it through the Home app, or ask Siri to show you the doorbell when someone's waiting outside. And yes, it'll integrate nicely with your other devices -- you can turn on the porch lights the moment the device spots someone at the front door.
What to expect at CES 2019
We're not quite done dusting off the glitter from our New Year's Day celebrations, but it's time to turn our attention once again to that other big event in January: the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Yes, the annual flurry of tech and gadgets returns to Las Vegas next week, and we'll be right there in the middle of it all to check out what's new. From smart homes to the biggest of big-screen TVs, here's a brief sneak peek at what we expect from this year's show.
2018: The year Amazon became even harder to avoid
It's been ages since Amazon was just a place to buy books. But even now, it's still easy to think of the company as a big online store. Resist that urge. Amazon's size and scale mean it's almost preternaturally good at selling and delivering things, but the company's real job is to find ways to make itself indispensable. If you let it, Amazon will sell you groceries and entertain you. It will make clothes and appliances to fill your home with. It will give you a full-time, part-time or super-part-time job, depending on your circumstances. At this point, it seems perfectly feasible to live a life enveloped completely by Amazon. And while the idea of a single company having this many hooks into our lives can be (and for some, absolutely is) alarming, Amazon still found ways to broaden its reach in 2018.
Amazon's $200 Echo Link is ready with streaming music for your hi-fi
If you've bought into Amazon's ecosystem of smart home features and you have a high-end audio system, then the Echo Link is intended to bring those worlds together. Announced earlier this year alongside devices like the Echo Sub and Fire TV Recast, it doesn't contain a microphone or speaker like the Echo Dot. Instead it simply delivers quality audio to your existing amplifier and/or speakers at the command of Alexa-connected apps and devices. Better yet, it doesn't only work with Amazon Music -- Spotify, Pandora and Tidal work out of the box with Apple Music listed as "coming soon." As far as the hardware, it's a simple box made to fit in on your shelf of equipment, with just a volume dial and headphone jack on the front, plus various ins and outs on the back. If you need to have an amplifier integrated into the box, you'll want to wait for the appropriately-named Echo Link Amp that's coming out next year. It adds a 60W two-channel amplifier to the mix and another $100 to the price. Right now, however, the Echo Link is your only option at $199.99.
Engadget UK giveaway: Win a smart heating system courtesy of Tado
There's something ever so satisfying about milling around in your PJs at home when you need to wrap up like a mummy to set foot outside. But making repeated trips to the thermostat and fiddling around with the timer isn't quite so enjoyable. This week, we're giving away a package that'll vastly increase your boiler's IQ, thanks to our pals at Tado. In addition to many remote control and scheduling features, Tado's latest smart thermostat helps you manage your home's microclimate, considering factors like air quality, humidity and others. On top of a thermostat starter kit, one lucky winner will also receive two smart radiator valves for creating individual heating zones, and free installation for the whole shebang. To get involved, read the rules, enter via the Rafflecopter widget below, then cross your fingers.
Apple buys privacy-minded AI startup Silk Labs
Apple has been on a AI-centric hiring spree this year, having lured over Google's former AI chief to head a new team combining its core machine learning and Siri groups as well as numerous software engineers. Somewhere along the way it also quietly acquired privacy-centric AI startup Silk Labs, per The Information.
Engadget giveaway: Win a Smart Light Starter Kit and Home Max courtesy of Google!
If you haven't dabbled in the smart home sector yet, but would like to enjoy some of the perks without investing big bucks, the new made-for-Google Smart Light Starter Kit from GE is tailor-made. This package includes a Google Home Mini and a GE-C Life smart bulb, both of which can talk to each other by Bluetooth, obviating the need for any hubs. It's that easy to set up voice-controlled ambiance with any of the Google Home smart speakers. Plus, since the Home devices are WiFi connected as well, you can remotely control your lights. Additional bulbs can be added without too much cost and if you purchase one of the Google/GE kits between November 22nd and 26th, there are some major discounts to be had at the Google Store. This week, Google has provided us with a Smart Light Starter Kit for two lucky readers, along with a super-sized Google Home Max so you can really crank up the tunes. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to four chances at winning one of these Google smart home packages. Good luck! Winners: Congratulations to Jesse D. of Antioch, CA and Antonio P. of New York, NY!
Alexa can wake up more of your smart home devices
You can certainly use Amazon's Alexa to turn on some devices, but that support is frequently limited. What if a device is in a low-power state and won't respond to your hue and cry? Amazon now has a solution. It recently added a "wake-on-LAN" control method that can turn on sleeping connected gadgets in the home that otherwise won't respond to voice control. Device makers just need to craft Alexa skills that use the new control to have it turn on TVs and other hardware on the local network.
Amazon's Alexa-powered Microwave is basic, but that's OK
I don't know about you, but I have a love-hate relationship with my microwave. I love how convenient it is, but hate that I rely on it so much. And, full disclosure, one time I managed to accidentally blow one up. Yeah. That's a story for another time. Regardless of how I feel, the microwave is a staple in our kitchens, and it hasn't changed much since its introduction in 1946. You pop your food in, set the timer, then hit start. Pretty simple. But Amazon thinks it can make the process even simpler with the $60 AmazonBasics microwave. Its headline feature is Alexa voice control, which seems a little silly. How much harder is it to press a few buttons instead of saying "Alexa, heat up my soup?" Well, Amazon feels it has more than minor conveniences to offer.
Google and iRobot team up to better map your home
Your Roomba's home mapping could be useful for more than more effective cleaning. Google and iRobot have formed a partnership to improve smart home technology using consumer robots. The two will find "additional ways" to link their platforms beyond Google Assistant control, including the possibility of using a Roomba's map-based spatial awareness to "simplify home setup" and foster "powerful new automations."
Hive takes its classy Home View security camera outdoors
Stylish isn't the first word that springs to mind when you think of connected security cameras. But Hive is striving to change that by adopting the style and substance route pioneered by Alphabet's Nest. The UK-based smart home company's latest device is the Hive View outdoor camera -- a twin to its eye-catching indoor snapper -- that continues its collaborative streak with serial consultant Yves Béhar.
Google Home Hub review: A more personal smart display
Google debuted its take on the smart display earlier this year with a slew of Echo Show rivals. This is, after all, the Google way. As it did with Android, Google created the ecosystem and then partnered with third-party companies like Lenovo and JBL to make the actual products. However, as with the Pixel and the first run of Google Home products, Google likes to dabble in hardware, too. That's why it wasn't much of a surprise when Google announced the Home Hub -- its very own spin on the smart display. What was surprising, was how different it was from all the other Google-powered smart displays so far. The Home Hub is small, clad in a fabric finish, and (perhaps its most intriguing "feature") doesn't have a camera. It all adds up to a refreshing take on the smart display that makes it a good fit for nearly every room in your home.
Amazon fixes security flaws allowing smart home hijacks
Some smart home device owners may have dodged a bullet. Amazon recently patched 13 security flaws in an operating system for the Internet of Things, FreeRTOS, as well as Amazon Web Services connection modules. The holes let intruders crash devices, leak the contents of their memory and remotely run code, effectively giving attackers full control. The flaws might have been far-reaching if they'd gone unfixed -- both FreeRTOS and its safety-oriented counterpart SafeRTOS are used in a wide range of devices inside and outside the home, including cars, aircraft and medical gear.
